Groomer

About Petco

Petco is where pets and pet people go to live their best lives. With more than 60 years of experience, we provide everything pets need—from meals and toys to trusted supplies and expert support—while fostering the pet-human bond. We operate over 1,500 stores across the U.S., Mexico, and Puerto Rico, along with 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics, and eight distribution centers. Founded in 1999, Petco Love has helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals through in-store adoption events and supports thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide.

About the role

As a Pet Stylist at Petco, you’ll provide professional grooming services to pets, ensuring each one receives exceptional care and leaves looking and feeling their best. This role is ideal for experienced groomers seeking to grow their expertise and productivity in a supportive, pet-first environment.

Responsibilities

• Perform professional grooming services, including bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning, following pet parent instructions and breed standards.
• Operate and maintain grooming instruments such as clippers, blades, shears, brushes, and dryers.
• Prioritize the safety, comfort, and well-being of every animal, monitoring for signs of discomfort, illness, or injury and reporting concerns to pet owners and store management.
• Evaluate each pet’s individual needs, considering coat type, skin conditions, and temperament.
• Interact professionally with pet parents, providing optimal customer service, addressing inquiries, and offering grooming recommendations.
• Educate pet parents on grooming maintenance and at-home care practices and products.
• Maintain a clean and safe grooming area, disinfecting and sanitizing tools and equipment in accordance with Petco’s hygiene and sanitation policies.
• Follow Petco’s grooming policies, standards, and guidelines to ensure safety, quality, and consistency.
• Train, support, and supervise entry-level trainees as needed.

Requirements

• Completion of the Pet Stylist Apprentice program with Petco, or previous experience as a professional groomer and/or completion of a technical grooming training program.
• High-school diploma or GED preferred, though not required.
• Ability to work independently with latitude for problem-solving in routine to moderately complex situations.
• Results-driven with a commitment to productivity, performance, and ownership of the role.
• Strong attention to detail and a genuine passion for animals.
• Expert knowledge of dog breeds, grooming requirements, common health issues, and behaviors.
• Proficiency in breed-specific cuts, styling techniques, and grooming standards.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for interactions with pet parents and team members.
• Ability to handle pets of all sizes and temperaments with care and empathy.
• Availability to work weekends, evenings, and holidays as required.

Work Environment

The majority of job duties are conducted indoors in the grooming salon. The role requires bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds, and standing for long periods. Exposure to heights using a two-step ladder or support tools may be necessary. The environment can be noisy and wet, with frequent direct contact with pets and pet parents.

Skills

• Competitive base pay
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401k and other financial benefits
• Paid Time Off
• Petco discounts
• All grooming supplies and equipment provided, including brushes, nail trimmers, clippers, blades, shampoo, sprays, and tools
• State-of-the-art equipment, including bathing systems, kennels, tables, and dryers
• Career development and growth opportunities, such as Grooming Salon Leader, Grooming Mentor, and Grooming Instructor roles